Car boot sale of Pennes-Mirabeau

The Car boot sale of Pennes-Mirabeau: treasure hunting in a perched village in Provence

Every May 1st, the streets of Les Pennes-Mirabeau host an annual car boot sale that brings together residents and visitors for a friendly day of treasure hunting. Taking advantage of the public holiday, families and bargain hunters take over the aisles lined with stalls run by individuals clearing out attics, cellars, and closets. Entry is free, and the typically Provençal atmosphere makes this event a highly anticipated date in the flea market calendar of the Bouches-du-Rhône.

A listed perched old village, between Marseille and Vitrolles

A commune of nearly 23,000 inhabitants located about fifteen kilometers northwest of Marseille and at the gates of Vitrolles, Les Pennes-Mirabeau is distinguished by its perched old village, listed among the remarkable sites of the department. Stretching along a spur of limestone rocks, the old village evokes a Provençal nativity scene with its Saint-Blaise church completed in 1871 and its bell tower, its Pallières windmill from the early 17th century, and the Notre-Dame d'Aide chapel, founded in the 17th century by the white penitents for the liberation of captives from Barbary pirates. The Château des Vento, built in 1553, overlooks the village and offers a remarkable panorama of the Vitrolles plateau, the Étang de Berre, and the Chaîne de la Nerthe.

Finds for all tastes

As in the best Provençal car boot sales, the stalls at the Pennes-Mirabeau car boot sale offer a wide variety of items at low prices: crockery and ceramics, books and comics, clothing and accessories, toys and board games, small furniture and decorative objects, trinkets and curiosities. Bargaining is part of the fun of treasure hunting, and the prices set by private sellers remain affordable for all budgets.

A commune with an ancient and vibrant heritage

The history of Les Pennes-Mirabeau dates back to antiquity: the first inhabitants settled as early as the 3rd century BC on the Oppidum de Teste-Nègre, a fortified defensive site overlooking the Marignane plain. The commune's motto, « Super Pennas Ventorum » (Under the wings of the winds), testifies to the strong identity of this village battered by the mistral wind. Today, Les Pennes-Mirabeau belongs to the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence and benefits from a privileged location, 10 km from Marseille Provence International Airport and a few minutes from the Aix-en-Provence TGV station.

May 1st: a tradition of treasure hunting in Provence

May 1st, Labor Day, is traditionally a good day for car boot sales and flea markets in Provence. The mild and sunny climate in May in the Bouches-du-Rhône invites outdoor strolls. The Pennes-Mirabeau car boot sale takes advantage of this public holiday to attract a large audience, from early morning bargain hunters to families looking for a pleasant time in the picturesque village setting. A great opportunity to combine heritage tourism and the pleasure of treasure hunting.